Last Report: 10/02/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 319,209
Return Rate: 27.6%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 169,167 53.0 557,424 30.3
Republicans 54,024 16.9 213,416 25.3
Minor 951 0.3 5,466 17.4
No Party Affiliation 95,067 29.8 381,300 24.9
TOTAL 319,209 100.0 1,157,606 27.6
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 242,784 76.1
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 76,425 23.9
TOTAL 319,209 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 230,759 72.3 772,022 29.9
Non-Hispanic Black 50,691 15.9 205,260 24.7
Hispanic 5,565 1.7 28,051 19.8
Non-Hispanic Asian American 5,776 1.8 28,953 19.9
Non-Hispanic Native American 1,040 0.3 4,959 21.0
Other/Multiple/Unknown 25,377 7.9 118,361 21.4
TOTAL 319,209 100.0 1,157,606 27.6

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 14,503 4.5 97,585 14.9
26 to 40 35,750 11.2 202,861 17.6
41 to 65 106,329 33.3 426,208 24.9
66 and up 154,035 48.3 430,952 35.7
TOTAL 319,209 100.0 1,157,606 27.6

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 169,563 53.1 627,147 27.0
Male 133,920 42.0 452,484 29.6
Unknown 15,726 4.9 77,975 20.2
TOTAL 319,209 100.0 1,157,606 27.6

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 6,336
Rejection Rate: 1.9%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 3,922 61.9 173,089 2.3
Republicans 1,041 16.4 55,065 1.9
Minor 20 0.3 971 2.1
No Party Affiliation 1,353 21.4 96,420 1.4
TOTAL 6,336 100.0 325,545 1.9
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,859 45.1 233,618 1.2
Non-Hispanic Black 2,561 40.4 53,252 4.8
Hispanic 198 3.1 5,763 3.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 148 2.3 5,924 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 37 0.6 1,077 3.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 533 8.4 25,910 2.1
TOTAL 6,336 100.0 325,545 1.9
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,157,606
Request Rate: 16.2%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 344,008 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 557,424 48.2
Republicans 213,416 18.4
Minor 5,466 0.5
No Party Affiliation 381,300 32.9
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 772,022 66.7
Non-Hispanic Black 205,260 17.7
Hispanic 28,051 2.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 28,953 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 4,959 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 118,361 10.2
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 97,585 8.4
26 to 40 202,861 17.5
41 to 65 426,208 36.8
66 and up 430,952 37.2
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 627,147 54.2
Male 452,484 39.1
Unknown 77,975 6.7
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0